Scouting Reports

Avalanche star Peter Forsberg stayed home, seemingly the only
marquee player who did during the NHL's wild off-season.
Forsberg took an indefinite leave of absence from the Stanley
Cup champions to recover after a splenectomy and some lesser
ravages of the game, a sabbatical that muddies a Cup picture
already clouded by a summer of musical personnel. Dominik Hasek,
Brett Hull (left) and Luc Robitaille joined the Red Wings.
Pierre Turgeon left the Blues for the Stars and was replaced in
St. Louis by the estimable Doug Weight. Eric Lindros finally
received a ticket out of Philadelphia (to the division rival
Rangers), while the Flyers retooled, most prominently by adding
Jeremy Roenick. Improbably, Alexei Yashin and Michael Peca
happily joined the hapless Islanders. In an even bigger head
scratcher, the Capitals acquired five-time scoring champion
Jaromir Jagr from the Penguins for three players you've never
heard of.

However, with Hasek solving Detroit's goaltending woes, the Red
Wings, despite having eight key players 35 or older, will be
sitting with the Cup when this game of musical personnel
concludes next June.

How They'll Finish

EASTERN CONFERENCE

ATLANTIC DIVISION SI'S RANKING

1. Philadelphia Flyers* 2
2. New Jersey Devils* 6
3. Pittsburgh Penguins* 13
4. New York Islanders 18
5. New York Rangers 20

NORTHEAST DIVISION

1. Toronto Maple Leafs* 9
2. Boston Bruins* 10
3. Ottawa Senators* 12
4. Buffalo Sabres* 14
5. Montreal Canadiens 26

SOUTHEAST DIVISION

1. Washington Capitals* 5
2. Carolina Hurricanes 17
3. Florida Panthers 21
4. Tampa Bay Lightning 22
5. Atlanta Thrashers 30

WESTERN CONFERENCE

CENTRAL DIVISION

1. Detroit Red Wings* 1
2. St. Louis Blues* 8
3. Nashville Predators 19
4. Columbus Blue Jackets 23
5. Chicago Blackhawks 24

NORTHWEST DIVISION

1. Colorado Avalanche* 3
2. Edmonton Oilers* 15
3. Vancouver Canucks* 16
4. Calgary Flames 27
5. Minnesota Wild 28

PACIFIC DIVISION

1. Dallas Stars* 4
2. San Jose Sharks* 7
3. Los Angeles Kings* 11
4. Phoenix Coyotes 25
5. Anaheim Mighty Ducks 29

*PLAYOFF TEAM

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
Philadelphia over Washington

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
Detroit over Colorado

STANLEY CUP FINALS
Detroit over Philadelphia

Fast Facts and Insider Rankings on the following pages were
written by David Sabino and Pierre McGuire, respectively.

COLOR PHOTO: DAVID E. KLUTHO[T of C]

COLOR PHOTO: PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID E. KLUTHO